BBC Studios & Diving Bell Group team for pitch co-development

L-R: Kim Butler & Justin Girdler

BBC Studios has struck a first look and development deal with talent and entertainment company Diving Bell Group, whose roster includes broadcasters, international authors and digital creators.

The deal gives BBC Studios a first look at content ideas from Diving Bell clients, to co-develop the projects and pitch for commissions.

BBC Studios teamed up with former Channel 4 deputy director of programmes Kelly Webb-Lamb, who has worked with Diving Bell’s talent on a one-to-one basis to identify opportunities for further development by the talent and the BBC Studios Digital Originals team.

Founded by Kim Butler and Justin Girdler in 2017, Diving Bell clients include model, trans activist and cultural figure Munroe Bergdorf; feminist author, illustrator and influencer Florence Given (Women Don’t Owe You Pretty, Octopus); Gina Martin, who successfully led the national campaign to make upskirting illegal; and Emma Gannon whose careers podcast Ctrl Alt Delete has amassed more than 10 million downloads.

BBC Studios TalentWorks director of talent Paul Hembury commented: “BBC Studios TalentWorks seeks to work with innovative new storytellers, and that’s why we’re delighted to be partnering with Diving Bell and supporting them and their impressive talent to develop ideas, enabling them tell even bigger, bolder stories.”